Job Profile (To be attached to the relevant Grade Profile document)
Core job informationJob Title / Research Technician
Dept./School/Inst. / William Harvey Research Institute / Section/Centre/Unit / Centre for Experimental Medicine & Rheumatology
Career Family / Technical Services / Grade / 3
Working hours per week / 35 / Appointment period / 24 months
Reports to (job title) / Head of Centre / Current location / John Vane Science Centre
Job purpose (Why does the job exist? What is it there to achieve or deliver?)
· To provide technical/scientific support for the running of the EMR studies & routine core laboratory duties
· To work as part of the Institute’s research team, being mutually supportive and covering duties as necessary during colleagues’ absences and at times of additional pressure, as directed.
· To contribute to the overall scientific endeavour of the Centre, and to take responsibility for areas of several of the current projects, as demand requires
Knowledge, Skills & Experience (work experience, qualifications, specialist training, key skills, disposition)
Requirements / Essential/Desirable
Qualifications / Undergraduate degree in relevant subject or equivalent qualification / Essential
Experience / Experience in histology & immunohistochemistry techniques
Experience in molecular biology and cellular immunology techniques
Experience in light & fluorescence microscopy
Experience in the handling of biospecimens (collection, processing, storage & databasing) / Essential
Essential/Desirable
Essential
Desirable
Knowledge, skills & abilities / Basic cell and molecular biology
Basic cellular immunology
Knowledge in the handling, processing and data analysis of human samples
Excellent organisational skills
Ability to collect and analyse data
Ability to present work orally and written to other members of the laboratory staff
Good understanding of Health & Safety regulations & procedures
Expected to be competent in an undertaking a range of technical support activities without constant guidance.
Computer literacy, including Word, Excel, Powerpoint & literature searches / Essential
Desirable
Desirable
Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Attitude & disposition / Able to accommodate the demands of the post with flexible working as required
Friendly & positive disposition
Able to work in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Ability to work unsupervised & on own initiative
Ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team
Ability to work to deadlines / Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Essential
Other circumstances / General health appropriate to the duties of the post
Flexibility to work occasionally outside normal hours
Willingness to work at other sites where necessary / Essential
Essential
Essential
Main Duties and Responsibilities of the Role
MAIN DUTIES
1. Histological/immunohistochemical characterisation & imaging of synovial tissues.
2. Collection & processing of human synovial tissue samples & biospecimens.
3. Extraction of nucleic acid (RNA & DNA) from synovial tissues and blood specimens.
4. To assist with routine gene expression profiling, collect & analyse data.
5. To assist in the execution of quality assurance assessments/audits, collect analyse data.
GENERAL DUTIES
6. To maintain appropriate databases, keeping accurate written and computerised records and to ensure that these records are stored in a secure place, and to maintain confidentially of all electronically stored personal data in line with the provisions of the Data Protection Act.
7. To assist in the running of the laboratory where required and to perform appropriate laboratory duties and to assist in the training of other laboratory workers.
8. To attend and participate in the Centre’s academic activities, e.g. laboratory and journal club meetings.
9. To collaborate with other members of the research group through provision of experimental data.
10. To provide and prepare data and other material essential to the principal investigators in preparing reports, scientific publications etc. as appropriate.
11. To make contributions to the research programme wherever possible, and to contribute freely to the team environment in a manner conducive to the research project as a whole.
12. To instruct other members of the team in skills and methods developed by the incumbent.
13. To observe and take an active role in fulfilling all statutory health and safety requirements, such as COSSH and Radiation Safety.
14. To undertake certain communal laboratory responsibilities (including washing and cleaning duties), the nature of which will be discussed and agreed prior to commencement of the post, but which may need to be changed from time to time during the course of the project.
15. To show a professional attitude to matters of laboratory hygiene, organisation and safety, and to observe and to take an active role in fulfilling all statutory health and safety regulations.
OTHER
16. To ensure that all research is undertaken according to Good Clinical Practice (GCP), Good Laboratory Practice (GLP), College and Trust protocols.
17. To ensure they are fully aware of and comply with the College’s/Trust’s policies and procedures in relation to confidentiality, health and safety at work, COSHH regulations, infection control, safe handling of drugs, and all local safety rules regarding fire, chemical, radioisotope and gene manipulation hazards.
18. These duties will be subject to review in line with the changing requirements of the Centre, Institute, School or College, and with the development needs of the post-holder as identified through regular review/appraisal processes.
Working Environment (knowledge of special working practices, breadth of management skill required, customer impact, responsibility, efficiency)
· Communication and co-operation with colleagues in a range of disciplines.
· Ensure that equipment/apparatus etc. in own area is maintained in accordance with day to day operational requirements
· Advise on stock requirements of equipment and consumables for own work area
· Maintain a safe working environment in accordance with Health and Safety procedures
· To show a professional attitude to matters of laboratory hygiene, organisation and safety, and to observe and to take an active role in fulfilling all statutory health and safety regulations.
Freedom to Act & Decision Making (depth of control, supervision received, use of judgement & initiative, analytical ability)
· Apply a good working understanding of specialised techniques, equipment and systems to carry out a range of defined tests and analyses
· Have a good oversight of the status of your duties and identify gaps which need attention. Take action to fill in these gaps.
· Ensure accurate completion of documentation and records
· Resolve a range of standard work problems independently referring more complex problems to a senior colleague
· Diagnose faults/problems with equipment
· Plan and organise a range of technical support tasks to time and quality standards
· Prioritise own standard and non-standard work schedule
· May be involved in the preparation of work rotas and activity scheduling in own work area for routine tasks
· Contribute to the day-to-day technical running of a small work area/research project
· Work is allocated by line manager and/or chief technician. May work independently, but under general direction of line manager and/or chief technician
· Organisation of technical requirements and daily smooth running of teaching laboratories as delegated by chief technician
· May be responsible for provision of technical service to research groups as allocated by the chief technician
· Management of stock control for assigned practical work
Communication & Networking (liaison with others, type and level of communications)
· To work as part of a multidisciplinary team of clinicians, scientists, nurses and support staff, developing good working relationships within the team, and making use of discussions with the project supervisor(s), and other team members as appropriate, to establish and maintain excellent communication links.
· Providing, receiving and presenting information to staff/students/peers within the Research Centre, Institute, SMD and NHS Trust.
· To review study progress with the project supervisor at least weekly or more often if necessary.
· May attend relevant meetings as requested by a manager, to support standard work activities
Finance/Resource Management (budgeting, forecasting)
· No budgetary responsibilities
People Management (supervisory responsibility, human relations skills)
• No direct line management of staff.
• Supervision and training of new members of staff and students, in appropriate lab techniques, etc.
This job description sets out the duties of the post at the time it was drawn up. Such duties may vary from time to time without changing the general character of the duties or level of responsibility entailed. Such variations are a common occurrence and cannot of themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of the post.
Organisation Chart